The bisphosphonates were hyped and oversold.

If your severely osteoporotic, T-score -2.5 or worse, Fosamax will cut relative risk (the deception) of hip fractures 56% over 4 years. Absolute risk is cut only 0.3% per year, 1.2% total over 4 years. Bottom line, 80 women take it for 4 years to prevent 1 fracture at a cost of over $300,000.

And it only works if patients are compliant enough to take their calcium and vitamin D every day. No benefit from taking Fosamax longer than 5 years.

Now we see there is a downside.

Nice post Ed.

I think I will write a blog post on this topic in a few days.

The last I looked at these medications they were viewed as effective for preventing bone fractures. Now?

Things change so fast in the world of pharmaceuticals.

But seriously….I’m still wondering why ABC did this as a lead story a few nights ago, and in unusual detail. Clearly, they got a head’s up on the AAOS presentations. But I don’t recall quite this kind of “preemptive” (pardon my phrase) coverage of an issue when no drug withdrawal involved.

Is Diane Sawyer making a difference? Perhaps her 60 Minutes background? Personally, I think the program is improved since she stepped in.